Anthony A. Beale (born October 22, 1967) is an American politician and the alderman of the 9th ward of the City of Chicago, Illinois United States. Beale is noted as having been one of the youngest members to serve as elected official on the City of Chicago's City Council. Beale was first elected in 1999. In 2023 Beale was elected to his seventh term in office. In 2013, Beale was an unsuccessful candidate in the Democratic primary for the special election to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. as U.S. Congressman from Illinois' 2nd congressional district.
Education
Beale attended Corliss High School, graduating in 1985. Beale later attended Blackburn College.
Beale worked as a computer data analyst.
Aldermanic career
Beale was elected alderman for the 9th ward in 1999. He has been reelected in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023.
In his 1999 victory, backed by Jesse Jackson Jr. and James Meeks, he defeated Herbert Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw, who had vacated the 9th ward seat himself months earlier after being elected to serve on the Cook County Board of Review. Beale's 1999 victory was considered an upset.
Beale proposed using taxpayer money to hire private security patrols for commercial districts.
In February 2012, the Chicago Dispatcher reported that Beale attended a fundraiser in his honor held by members of Chicago's taxicab industry just five days before legislation governing the industry was to be heard, which he and Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced. The Chicago Dispatcher also reported that certain provisions of the legislation changed just prior to the hearing, which were favorable to taxicab operators who threw the fundraiser.
In the runoff of the 2019 Chicago mayoral election, Beale endorsed Lori Lightfoot.
In November 2019, Beale was one of eleven aldermen to vote against Mayor Lori Lightfoot's first budget.
After he tried to organize opposition to Lightfoot's choice for Finance Committee chairman, Scott Waguespack, he was stripped of his own committee chairmanship. Beale became a regular critic of Lightfoot, and particularly has opposed her attempts to scale back the practice of aldermanic prerogative. in Beale's home 9th ward, Kelly (50%) bested Beale (34%).
Personal life
Beale currently lives in the Roseland neighborhood with his wife, Dana, and their three children. Beale attends and serves as a member of Salem Baptist Church.
Whitney Young High School incident
On August 24, 2009, Beale became the second alderman to concede his daughter had gained admission to Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, an elite magnet school, after he contacted principal Joyce Kenner, with whom he had a "personal relationship."
References
External links
- Beale for Congress website
- Citizens to Elect Anthony A. Beale website
- City of Chicago
- Anthony Beale archive at the Chicago Tribune
- Anthony Beale archive at the Chicago Reader